Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-12

MAIN TAxEs-rHE CHANGE IN TIE WATER RATES,
ETC.
The subcommittee on water supply and sewer.
One Hundred met the District Commissioners by
appointment at O'Clock to-day. Mr.. W. Il. Sin.
gleton, chairman Of the committee, explained that
under the system adopted by the Committee OF One
Hundred this committee was not authorized to En-
press the views OF the Committee OF One Hundred
They came simply to obtain certain facts. Tnes
would be only too glad, after obtaining the facts
to report to the committee of One Hundred that
the municipal authorities have acted entirely
within the law. II the facts showed otherwise
they would feel 1t their duty, Of course to make
report In accordance with the facts.
Mr.. Webb stated that the Commissioners would
give al the Information that was desired theonly
mand Of the Commissioners.
Col Ludlow said he thought they could furnish
al imS S'nIs.H desired readily.
queries prepared by the committee;
Sirs' We would be pleased TO receive informA-
l. what law is referred to in report OF Commits.
sioners OF District OF Columbia 1850, p. %, last
paragraph, line 4? Please give date OF act or acts
ence OF the District authorities "that the IAN ne.
Quires that the water rentals must meet all Dis.
trlct expenditures for the water serv1ce?"
What law directs that water rentals must
pay one-han OF the principal or sinking fund for
the cost OF the '.new aQueduct and its adiunctsS,
or the 81, $50 O2 paid in 1887 for interest and
sinking fund for Increased water supply" how
much was principal and how much was interesti
b. Wnat total amount Is there contemplated
paying In 1888, and what amount for principal
and what amount for INTEREST,"
T. II obtainable, what Is the total OF water
rentals collected this Year,
2. Have the water rentals been Increased simply
10 provide sufficient revenue for keeping up
supply OF water" and for the increased expense In
the ."maintenance, management, and repair OF the
ton 1913, Revised Statutes District OF Columbia
and for interest on one-half OF the cost Of the
new v, aqIednct and adjuncts as provided for in
act OF July Is, 1882, and for no other purpose7
8. II SO, what are the items of Increased expense
by subject and amount7
8. What were the amounts of the items of ex.
pendtnees IN query for 1887, and what will they
10. II the increase has been made to meet other
expenses, what are they and the amounts OF eachi
from water rentals has been used for laying mains
or for any other purpose than for the 'mainte-
Waaer 4nd OF tho system
II. II So please state items by year, amount
and object on which expended from 1874 to date.
-. Has the revenue derived from the water.
the laying down Of water mains7
"a. IL SO, please state items by year, amount,
and object on which expedited from 1874 to date.
10. detailed statement OF expense OF laying
the water mains and q detailed statement or the
expense OF maintaining, managing and repairing
increase in each amount for 1887
IL. whether, after citizen lays water main
and pays for such laying at his own expense, the
adjacent property is then taxed for the water
main?
II. II SO, what is the law which authorizes such
tax, after the cost OF laying the main has been
borne by the citizen who has 1t laid?
IL. Statements furnished by the Commissioners
ana printed In The EVENING STAR August 9, 1887,
says that from 1850 to 1886 the receipts from
Waterman taxes were s1246e4 80 and the ex.
pense OF laying mains was SIS O227O. Is this cor
rect2
10. If So why has there been recommended an
view OF section 2o3, Revised Statute District OF
Columbia?
20. And for such other and further information
upon This subject as may seem lit.
''wATER-RENTALs."
AS the questions were read some OF them were
discussed briefly and Informally. AS to the first
two questions COL Ludlow stated that the phrase
''water-rentas" appeared In the report quoted
through an error or mispr1nt in place OF ''water
revenues" The correction being made the Ian
guage then followed the language Of the law, and
the questions needed no further answer.
AS TO the fourth question. the Commissioners
said the treasurer OF the United States kept the
THE INCREASES IN CHARGES.
AS to the seventh question, Col. Ludlow said
year ago On examination Of the condition OF the
water department showed that q very cOnsidera-
bic expenditure was necessary. A report from the
water office stated that the anticipated revenue
would not meet the needful expenditures The
water ONCE therefore recommended some in
creases in charges. The Commissioners considered
the matter for a long time, and decided that
charges at all. No increase was made
in the Waterman tax, and no general
increase in the water rentals. The only Change
was adopted not because 1t was an increase. but
because 1t seemed to be a more logical and euuit-
able arrangement. The actual amount Of money
yn6 oil rp1 rH,A1nv
some length the method OF assessing water rents
by frontage and the height OF buildings by stories
to show that the old system did not produce eQuit-
Col. Ludlow said. in answer to q query by Mr.
Singleton, that the commissioners did not think
an increase OF water rentals necessary. The sink
ing fund and all other charges against the water
department were paid out OF the water fund, which
included all the revenues OF the water department.
Mr. singleton asked: In case the revenues were
department, whether the Commissioners should
increase the water rentals.
COL LUDLOW CONSTRUCTS THR LAW.
Col. Ludlow said they were required by law to
adjust water rates and t6xeS as to meet the ex-
penses Of the department. They would not have
necessarily, to increase the rentals; they might
increase the water taxes As he construed the
law, little distinction was made as to the use to
which the water rentals should be put and that to
which the fund derived from Waterman taxes is
to be put. In answer to question eleven Col
Ludlow said that the funds derived from the
different sources Of revenue in the water depart.
ment were kept as general fund, and expended
as such. The fund had been used for all purposes
incident to the water service
THE WATER FUND NOT Used FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Mr.. Somerville asked whether any OF this fund
had been used for purposes outside OF the water
department?
Both commissioners Webb and Ludlow an
swered in the negative, and said that they could
not use it for any other purpose II they desired.
as 1t was specifically appropriated for certain pur
poses. On this point Col Ludlow remarked that
there seemed to be some apprehension In Mr..
Singleton's mind that the water rentals had
to be used for one purpose ana the water
taxes for another. He read section 10S, Revised
Statutes for the District, and said that there was
no difference made at ALL so far as he could see In
the objects Of the fund. The understanding OF the
was that there was no differences